Club sports want to maintain ties with PCHS

Lacrosse, hockey, mountain biking and water polo teams may be affected

Adam Spencer, The Park Record

Posted:
04/19/2013 04:34:20 PM MDT

When the Park City School Board announced it would be reviewing Policy 2020, it caused quite a stir with the Park City club sports teams.

The policy addresses the authorization of club sports and other student clubs, defining their legal relationship with Park City High School.

With rumors circulating that PCHS wanted to sever its affiliation with the lacrosse, hockey, mountain biking and water polo teams, many concerned players, coaches and parents flocked to the school board meeting on Tuesday, searching for answers.

At the center of the club sports debate is the issue of liability. The Board of Education would like to make sure it isn't exposed in case of an accident.

According to David Guyer, a member of the PCHS Hockey Advisory Board, the biggest concern among club sport supporters was that they wanted a meeting with the policy committee to make their voices heard and work through the issues together.

"I understand the school board's concern about liability exposure," he said. "But we just want to make sure these kids don't get dropped."

But, he added, he doesn't believe the school board wants to end the relationship with the historically successful programs.

"We don't know exactly what the board's thoughts are yet, but people are jumping to a lot of conclusions," he said. "But I don't think the high school wants to completely drop club sports.

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As a result of the school board meeting, the policy committee will meet with a group of club sports supporters on May 8.

The newly formed group, called the Club Sports Coalition, is made up of Margaret Hyatt, Jimmy Pompoco, Ted Dutkanych and Scott Adelman from the Park City Lacrosse Organization, Evan Hyde and Lori Howard from the PCHS Mountain Bike Club, Guyer and Scott Benson from the PCHS Hockey Club, Cindy Smith of the PCHS Water Polo Club, and Adrienne McNamara from the Park City Youth Lacrosse Organization.

Hyatt, Co-President of the PCHS lacrosse team, said she's confident the group will make a strong case for club sports.

"They know their organizations," she said. "It's a good brain trust."

At the end of the day, Hyatt said, it's all about letting the kids represent their school.